Eco2Way: Raben Group Opens Four New Contract Logistics Locations

Whether it’s the energy crisis, climate change, or supply chain resilience – the logistics industry faces unprecedented challenges in 2023. Resource-efficient operations have become a necessity and are no longer just a trend. The Raben Group is continuing to advance its sustainability strategy “Eco2Way” this year. The ambitious goal: In the first step, emissions from all transports are to be reduced by ten percent and by thirty percent in all buildings by 2025. The focus is on the new contract logistics locations in Sarstedt, Ragow, Gera, and Reichenberg.

All four branches are built according to the latest environmental standards and are excellently located near all major highway intersections. The quartet serves as a hub in the European Raben network, allowing for optimal utilization of every truck transport. This significantly shortens delivery times for customers in the consumer goods, chemical, and industrial sectors. In parallel, the modern Raben fleet and the gradual introduction of lower-emission trucks are important components of the Eco2Way strategy. Initial pilot projects with Volvo electric trucks have already begun.

Customers and partners can experience Eco2Way live this year. Raben is offering insights into the exciting world of logistics at the four branches. Kicking off on March 11 in Gera, the logistics service provider will inform under the motto “Effective Green Logistics: New Locations – New Ways” from 10 AM to 2 PM with expert presentations and discussions about the implementation of its sustainable business model. Raben has partnered with truck manufacturer Framo, which will showcase an electric truck in Gera. The other three branches will open their doors throughout the year with events, featuring a Volvo electric truck in Ragow.

Gera, Ragow, Sarstedt, and Reichenberg – no matter how great the regional differences are, the quartet shares one goal: to be close to the customer and to design the entire supply chain as sustainably as possible. “With the four new contract logistics locations, we are taking another step. We are facing the challenges and see ourselves as responsible for reducing the CO2 footprint along the entire value chain,” says Ewald Raben.

Customers Benefit from the High Quality Management of the Raben Group

Customers from the consumer goods, chemical, and industrial sectors benefit from the excellent quality management and high process reliability of the Raben Group at the new branches. Goods are delivered to the large transshipment halls, undergo quality control, are stored, picked, and prepared for transport. “This way, only the goods that are actually needed by the customer are delivered – always in the right quantity and always at the right time,” says Ewald Raben. The owner-managed company thus succeeds in reducing the number of necessary vehicles. For example, due to the consolidation of goods at one location, the number of truck kilometers driven per day in Gera alone was reduced by 160.

Raben Reduces Building Energy Requirements per Pallet at All Four New Locations

All new contract logistics locations are built according to the latest DGNB environmental standards, have a higher transshipment capacity, and have large warehouses that can accommodate up to 24 percent more pallets. This allows for a reduction in the building energy requirements per pallet. The warehouses in Gera and Ragow also have a mezzanine area, optimizing the available space. Raben is implementing a comprehensive LED lighting system and exclusively uses electric forklifts. To save heating costs, the loading zones at the ramps are thermally insulated as best as possible. A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery also ensures sufficient fresh air. The energy required for this is to increasingly come from renewable energy sources. Raben signed a corresponding contract for the supply of renewable energies back in 2021.

Modern Fleet with Electric Trucks and Cityliners

“With the new contract logistics locations in excellent locations, we are responding to the increased customer demand for available and quite sophisticated logistics spaces and additional services,” says Ewald Raben. To ensure efficient distribution of goods, the owner-managed company relies on a modern fleet. All trucks comply with European emissions standard 6. Another important step towards reducing CO2 emissions is the gradual introduction of low-emission electric trucks. In addition to the already deployed Volvo electric trucks, Raben plans to explore further options in 2023 to test trucks with alternative drives in pilot projects. Another approach is to increase transport capacity while simultaneously reducing the number of vehicles: Since spring 2021, 220 “Cityliner” trailers have been in use for the German market. These shorter, lighter, and more maneuverable trailers are particularly suitable for deliveries in urban areas compared to three-axle semi-trailer models. Raben replaces three standardized truck tractors with two Cityliners. Due to the larger loading volume, Cityliners can transport 27 pallets – significantly more than a solo truck. Efficient supply chain management ensures optimal utilization of the entire fleet. The IT tool “Smarttour” enables efficient planning of single or multi-stop deliveries and the avoidance of empty runs.

Photo: © Raben Trans European Germany GmbH / Image caption: The branch in Gera features an 18,000 square meter logistics warehouse.